Sources: Davis decides to bolt Warriors for Clips (2024)

The Clippers cannot re-sign Maggette after committing to Brand and Davis but can still flank its new star duo with center Chris Kaman, newly drafted Eric Gordon and Al Thornton, one of last season's top rookies. One Western Conference scout told ESPN.com in April that Brand and Kaman, when healthy, are the "best power forward/center combo in the NBA."

Maggette is drawing serious interest from San Antonio, Orlando and Boston already and could emerge as a top target of Philadelphia if the 76ers -- armed with more salary-cap space (an estimated $12.4 million) than any other team in the league besides Memphis -- are unable to sign restricted free-agent forward Josh Smith away from the Atlanta Hawks.

Yet Maggette could also wind up as a target for the Warriors, who without Davis' salary suddenly have the financial flexibility to re-sign prized youngsters Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins and make a splashy signing or two from the outside.

The Warriors have actually been operating as if they fully expected to lose Davis without compensation from the minute he decided to walk away from next season's $17.8 million to become an unrestricted free agent.

Golden State's immediate response was to make a lucrative offer to former Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas believed to be worth around $100 million over five seasons. But Arenas' return to the Washington Wizards is considered a virtual certainty around the league, as suggested by Antawn Jamison's comments Tuesday afternoon on ESPNEWS to discuss his own new contract with the Wizards for an estimated $50 million over the next four seasons.

"With Gilbert coming back and Gilbert being 100 percent healthy," Jamison said, "we are one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA."

One source said the Warriors then made a lucrative but unsuccessful free-agent pitch to Brand on Tuesday as opposed to resuming talks with Davis.

The Warriors have simply been reluctant all season to make a long-term financial commitment to Davis, who turned 29 in April and has a history of injury problems. Davis, meanwhile, has grown increasingly irritated with that stance, since he didn't miss a game this past season and averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 season for a team that narrowly missed the playoffs (but Golden State, with a record of 48-34, exceeded the win total of all but three teams in the Eastern Conference).

Davis was also the driving force on the 2006-07 Golden State team that halted a 12-season playoff drought and produced a historic first-round upset of the 67-win and top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the '07 playoffs. So his departure likely will come as a blow to freewheeling coach Don Nelson, who has relied on him so much. It could mirror Steve Nash's departure to Phoenix when Nelson was coaching the Mavericks, unless the Warriors can use their newfound cap flexibility to acquire a proven point guard. Golden State went into the offseason hoping to find a reliable backup for Davis and now have only Ellis as a reliable ballhandler.

Given the considerable depth in the West that only increases now with Davis moving into the Staples Center to push Bryant and the crosstown Lakers, it remains to be seen whether Golden State pursues veterans to replace its bearded leader or presses ahead with a growing youth movement. Davis leaves behind Golden State's other emotional leader -- forward Stephen Jackson -- but also a pack of an up-and-comers headlined by Ellis, Biedrins, Brandan Wright and last week's first-round pick, Anthony Randolph of LSU.

"I wanted to be here for a long time," Davis said of the Bay Area. "I still consider this home. The fans have done nothing but encourage, congratulate and support everything that I've ever done.

"I just took what was best for me."

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.